From: ben cloetens [bcloetens@ibewlocal58.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 1:37 PM
To: rule-comments@sec.gov
Subject: File No. S7-36-02
Mr. Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary / Securities and Exchange Commission
Mr. Katz,
Local 58 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers strongly
urges you exercise your considerable influence to assist in adopting the
proposed rule to require mutual funds to disclose proxy votes. I have
tracked proxy votes in many of our numerous funds very closely for several
years and am constantly alarmed by the flagrant misuses of proxy votes.
To cast votes which are clearly in conflict with the best interests of
the actual shareholders in done in secret for reasons which should be
obvious. Any help you can provide in adopting this rule as quickly as
possible will be greatly appreciated by myself and all of Local 58's
more than 12,000 members.
Ben Cloetens
Business Representative
IBEW Local 58